TRENTON — Residents and business owners of Perry Street are loving life these days because the three-block stretch between the Trenton Freeway entrance and Broad Street is a war zone no more.

“I’ve lived here 7 years,” Tawana Richardson said. “It’s the first time I’ve seen it looking like this.”

Drivers are even more giddy. No more elevated blood pressure because you’re cussing at the top of your lungs because you drove over another pothole and cracked an axle or because the jagged edges popped one of your tires. Now it’s a smooth, easy drive. The decreased decibels of traffic has increased the quality of life.

“I know the mechanics are probably going to be upset, but that’s OK,” said Stevi Richardson, who works at Le Male Barber Shop between Stockton and Montgomery. Of the traffic, which clogs the street during morning and evening rush hour, she said, “It’s a lot more quieter, a lot more free flowing — a lot better.”

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Sidewalks on both sides of Perry were rebuilt, too. Baby trees were planted, and the white concrete of the new sidewalks makes the green leaves of the mature trees pop out more. And while dilapidated or boarded-up row houses and greasy, grimy facades of mom and pop businesses continue to be an eyesore, those who live and work here feel like the most important pieces of the infrastructure puzzle are fixed. They’re anticipating the phases of improvement.

“It makes the neighborhood look way better,” said Kiki Mickle, who lives on Perry between Stockton and Montgomery. There used to be a massive pothole in front of her place, and the sidewalks were worse. “The kids couldn’t ever play because the cracks were so bad.”

Ravenna Giddens dealt with the ugly madness day in, day out as a cross guard. “Wow. Unbelievable. It was just tore up,” she said Thursday afternoon. “I almost fell a couple of times trying to cross my babies. But since they re-did the street it’s beautiful. Marvelous. They did a wonderful job. I couldn’t be more satisfied.”

A young mother by the name of Isabelle Rodriguez, who has lived on Perry between Montgomery and Broad for 2 years, said the sidewalks are so much better and that “you don’t have to bother with strollers, and if the kids are running back and forth you don’t have to worry about them falling and getting hurt.”

Mayor Tony Mack said his “blueprint” for fixing Trenton’s infrastructure began with the “8 gateways” — or the roads that attract the most drivers and are punished the worst: State, Calhoun, Broad, MLK, Greenwood, Hamilton, Clinton and Perry. Perry, he said, was “the most challenging” project based on what residents and business owners told him at town hall meetings. The Perry project, he said, cost between $700,000 and $1 million. Paving continues on Calhoun. Portions of Hamilton have been completed, and more needs to be done on Broad near the Sun Bank Arena.

Building or refurbishing Trenton parks is another priority on Mack’s to-do list, and there’s a new park on the corner next to the Trenton Freeway south entrance. Construction was swift for weeks then stopped, possibly because of a contamination issue, a source said. Weeds in the park are nearly 6-feet tall now. Mack said that contamination issues have been resolved and that the park will be completed in the “next month or two.” Next to the park is a three-story abode that’s been boarded up for a year or more.

After posting a picture of Mickle standing in front of her place with the rebuild sidewalk and paved street in the background and then teasing the story on Facebook and Twitter, these responses came in:

“I think it’s about damn time they paved Perry Street. Now it is no longer the worst road in Trenton!”

“I used to live in Trenton and I know how the surroundings can really bring you down. Glad for KiKi and her Neighbors!”

“I drive on Perry everyday to get to work. Literally the day after they completed paving the roads, there was already garbage all over the streets. Sad.”